Text field input selection based on selecting a key on a graphically displayed keyboard

Abstract

An MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) as an information processing apparatus accepts an input through a keyboard selectively displayed on the touch panel of an operation terminal from among a plurality of keyboards configured with software key groups different from each other. The MFP displays a setting screen including a plurality of input areas on the touch panel. When the setting screen appears, the MFP acquires the type of the selectively displayed keyboard and decides an input accepting area that accepts an input through the selectively displayed keyboard, from among the plurality of input areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information processing apparatus that accepts an input through an input screen selectively displayed on a display of a separate operation terminal from among a plurality of input screens, comprising:
 a display unit for displaying a plurality of input areas configured to accept inputs through the input screen appearing on the display of the separate operation terminal; 
 a type acquisition unit for acquiring a type of a software key appearing for the separate operation terminal input screen being selectively displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal, the type of the software key being one among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other; and 
 an area decision unit for deciding an input area from the plurality of input areas being displayed on the display unit, the decided input area corresponding to the type acquired by the type acquisition unit based on the acquired type of the software key, the decided input area being an input accepting area that accepts inputs with the acquired type of the software key through the input screen appearing on the display of the operation terminal. 
 
     
     
       2. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the area decision unit decides, as the input accepting area, an input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit. 
     
     
       3. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit, the area decision unit decides any one of the plurality of input areas as the input accepting area. 
     
     
       4. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit, when the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit includes a switch key that is a software key for switching an input screen to be displayed on the display of the operation terminal, the area decision unit decides, as the input accepting area, an input area that can accept an input through a software key included in an input screen that is switched to when the switch key is pressed a minimum number of times. 
     
     
       5. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a switch request unit, wherein in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit, the switch request unit requests the operation terminal to switch an input screen to be displayed on the display of the operation terminal to an input screen that includes a software key allowing input into the input accepting area. 
     
     
       6. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein in a case where there are a plurality of input areas that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit, the area decision unit decides, as the input accepting area, an input area displayed at the top of input areas that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by the type acquisition unit. 
     
     
       7. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another type acquisition unit for acquiring a type of a new input screen displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal after an input into the input accepting area is accepted; 
 a confirmation unit for confirming an input accepted in the input accepting area in a case where the input accepting area cannot accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by another type acquisition unit; and 
 an area switch unit for switching the input accepting area to an input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by another type acquisition unit, in a case where the input accepting area cannot accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired by another type acquisition unit. 
 
     
     
       8. An information processing apparatus that accepts an input through an input screen selectively displayed on a display of a separate operation terminal from among a plurality of input screens, comprising:
 a display unit for displaying a plurality of input areas configured to accept inputs of a specific type through the input screen appearing on the display of the separate operation terminal, and for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of input accepting areas; and 
 a display request unit requesting the separate operation terminal to display the input screen including a software key configured to provide the inputs of the specific type into the selected input accepting area, the specific type being based on the selected input accepting area and being one among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other. 
 
     
     
       9. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a type acquisition unit for acquiring a type of a software key appearing for the input screen displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other; 
 wherein in case where an input cannot be made into an input accepting area selected from among at least one input area through the type of the software key acquired by the type acquisition unit, the display unit requests the separate operation terminal to display an input screen including a software key allowing input into the selected input accepting area. 
 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a control program for an information processing apparatus that accepts an input through an input screen selectively displayed on a display of a separate operation terminal from among a plurality of input screens, the information processing apparatus including a display unit, the control program causing a computer to execute processing comprising:
 establishing communication with the separate operation terminal; 
 displaying, on the display unit of the information processing apparatus, a plurality of input areas configured to accept inputs of a specific type through the input screen appearing on the display of the separate operation terminal; 
 receiving a selection of one of the plurality of input accepting areas; and 
 requesting the separate operation terminal to display an input screen including a software key configured to provide the inputs of the specific type into the selected input accepting area, the specific type being based on the selected input accepting area and being one among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other. 
 
     
     
       11. The control program according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 acquiring a type of a software key appearing for the input screen displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other; 
 wherein in case where an input cannot be made into an input accepting area selected from among at least one input area through the acquired type of the software key, the display unit requests the separate operation terminal to display an input screen including a software key allowing input into the selected input accepting area. 
 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a control program for an information processing apparatus that accepts an input through an input screen selectively displayed on a display of a separate operation terminal from among a plurality of input screens, the information processing apparatus including a display unit, the control program causing a computer to execute processing comprising:
 displaying, on the display unit, a plurality of input areas configured to accept inputs through the input screen appearing on the display of the separate operation terminal; 
 acquiring a type of a software key displayed for the input screen being selectively displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal, the type of the software key being one among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other; and 
 deciding an input area from the plurality of input areas being displayed on the display unit, the decided input area corresponding to the type acquired by the type acquisition unit, based on the acquired type of the software key, the decided input area being an input accepting area that accepts inputs with the acquired type of the software key through an input screen selectively displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal. 
 
     
     
       13. The control program according to  claim 12 , wherein the input accepting area accepts an input through a software key included in the input screen of the acquired type. 
     
     
       14. The control program according to  claim 13 , wherein in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the acquired type, deciding any one of the plurality of input areas as the input accepting area. 
     
     
       15. The control program according to  claim 14 , wherein in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the type acquired type, when the input screen of the acquired type includes a switch key that is a software key for switching an input screen to be displayed on the display of the operation terminal, deciding, as the input accepting area, an input area that can accept an input through a software key included in an input screen that is switched to when the switch key is pressed a minimum number of times. 
     
     
       16. The control program according to  claim 14 , further comprising switching in a case where, among the plurality of input areas, there exists no input area that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the acquired type, the switching requesting the separate operation terminal to switch an input screen to be displayed on the display of the separate operation terminal to an input screen that includes a software key allowing input into the input accepting area. 
     
     
       17. The control program according to  claim 13 , wherein in a case where there are a plurality of input areas that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the acquired type, deciding, as the input accepting area, an input area displayed at the top of input areas that can accept an input through a software key included in the input screen of the acquired type. 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a control program for an operation terminal that selectively displays, on a display, an input screen for making an input into a separate information processing apparatus, from among a plurality of input screens, the control program causing a computer to execute processing comprising:
 establishing communication with the separate information processing apparatus; 
 receiving a request from the separate information processing apparatus for displaying an input screen that includes a particular software key providing inputs of a specific type based on a selected input accepting area; and 
 displaying the input screen that includes the particular software key configured to provide the inputs of the specific type on the display, the inputs of the specific type being based on the selected input accepting area and being one among a plurality of types of software keys different from each other, in response to the request.